Scientific and Technical Partnerships in Africa: Technologies, Platforms, and Partnerships in support of the African agricultural science agenda, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, April 4&5, 2017

1. Delivering a sustainable rice seed system in a
complex institutional setting
Technologies, Platforms and Partnerships in support of the African agricultural science agenda
Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire / April 4 and 5, 2017
Sidi Sanyang & Josey Kamanda
Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice)

2. Discussion points: Rice Tech. Brief
 Rice seed delivery in a complex institutional arrangement
 Drivers of rice seed system
 Engaging SMEs and other actors to ensure a sustainable
seed system
 Moving seeds across countries
 Market for quality paddy as a driving factor for the uptake
of quality seed

3.  Research institutes
• Breeder seed
• Foundation seed with private enterprises
• Skills enhancement on quality seed production
 National seed service
• Varietal release and notification
• Seed policy & legislation including regional harmonization of seed policies
• Quality control and seed certification
 Seed enterprises (SMEs)
• Certified seed production
 Out-growers
• Certified seed production
 Producers
Rice seed delivery in a complex institutional
arrangement

4. Drivers of Rice seed system
 Awareness creation on importance using quality seed/ seed
renewal
• Demonstrations on new varieties
• Incentives for farmers to renew their seed
 Effective systems for estimating seed demand at the
national level and across borders
• Estimating certified seed and foundation seed requirements
 Smart subsidies and other incentives for smallholder
farmers to take up new (improved) varieties
 Rice seed business combined with seed of other crops (e.g.
vegetable seed) and other inputs

5. Moving seed across borders
 Harmonized seed policies exist but have not been fully
mainstreamed in national policies
• Varietal release at national level generally remains weak
 The enforcement agencies (e.g. customs officials) not
involved / sensitized about regional seed policies
 Poor planning/ forecasting of seed requirements resulting
in last-minute demand
• Leads to procurement of seed that is not up to standard
• Leads to mistrust because of unreliable quality of seed

6. Engaging SMEs and other actors to ensure a
sustainable seed system
 Partnership with private sector SMEs:
• MASLAHA Seeds in Nigeria
• FASOKABA & ASSEMA in Mali
• NAFASO & FAGRI in Burkina Faso
• BILHOF-SA, BEERA, GRACE-CI in Cote d’Ivoire
• SUBA Agro Trading in Tanzania
• RELHAF AGRO BUSINESS in Madagascar
• ADAG-NII & NASECO in Uganda
 Collaboration with sub-regional organizations
• CORAF – West Africa Seed Program (WASP)
o Foundation seed production for WASP initiative
o AFSTA

7. Market-oriented breeding strategy
 New AfricaRice breeding approach of the Genetic Diversity
and Improvement (GDI) program
 Offers additional opportunities on market oriented research
• Best-fit rice varieties suitable for urban and niche markets
consumers
• Mega-varieties that cut across many countries
 Linking with value chain actors through innovation platforms
(IPs) in the rice sector development hubs
• Information and knowledge sharing on promising varieties/ traits
• Capacity building/ entrepreneurship development in seed business
• Feedback to the Africa-wide Rice Breeding Task Force (ARBTF)

8. Thanks